Ethan Frome

Edith Wharton

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ISBN 978-605-9242-12-7Printed and bound in Turkey by Yazın, Istanbul

CONTENTS

Chapter 1Lively People 5

Chapter 2Mattie Silver 7

Chapter 3Zeena’s Problem 9

Chapter 4Confusing Feelings 13

Chapter 5Alone with Mattie Silver 20

Chapter 6A Quiet Night 26

Chapter 7Zeena’s Return 31

Chapter 8Zeena’s Plan 34

Chapter 9The Pickle-Dish 42

Chapter 10A Cold Night 48

Chapter 11Desperate for Money 51

Chapter 12Zeena’z Anger 56

Chapter 13Mattie’s Departure 60

Chapter 14The Destiny 65

Activities 71Glossary 82Answer Key 95

5

Chapter 1

Lively People

The moon disappeared but the night was so transparent. The sky was crystal clear, smiling at the snow capped village. Young Ethan Frome walked fast along the quiet street, past the bank and Michael Eady’s new brick store. He walked past lawyer Varnum’s house at the gate, leaving the church behind. There was Corbury valley opposite Varnum Gate. The night was perfectly still and the weather was very cold. Ethan Frome was fascinated by the atmosphere, the white earth under his feet and the crystal-clear sky above his head. The fascinating image of the nature reminded him of his studies in the past. He went to a technological college at Worcester five years ago and studied in the laboratory with a friendly professor of Physics. He could not complete his studies because of his father’s death and some other family problems.

As he walked in the snow, he had a sense of astonishment glowing in his brain. At the end of the village, he paused and looked around. He stood there for a while and breathed fast, looking up and down the street. Below lawyer Varnum’s Gate was the favourite coasting place of Starkfield.

42

Chapter 9

The Pickle-Dish

Ethan went downstairs to see Mattie. In the kitchen she was sitting by the stove with the cat curling up on her knees.

‘I hope Zeena is well,’ she said.

‘Yes, she is.’

Mattie put the dish of meat-pie on the table.

‘You must be starving, Ethan.’

Ethan sat down at the table and fixed his eyes on her pretty face for a while. He began to eat his food but Mattie noticed his unwillingness.

‘What’s the matter, Ethan? Doesn’t it taste right?’ she asked worriedly.

He pushed his plate away and rose from his chair. Mattie was getting worried about his attitude.

‘Ethan, please stop acting like this! I know there is something wrong. Tell me what it is.’

He put his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

63

Ethan Frome

With a sudden movement she tore the letter and threw

the pieces on the snow.

‘Tell me, Matt! Tell me!’

‘I used to think of it sometimes, at summer nights, when

the moon was so bright and I couldn’t sleep.’

Ethan’s heart began to beat fast.

‘I’m like a bird in a cage, Matt. I can’t move. I can’t do

anything for us,’ he said hopelessly.

Matt gave him a quick look. She was looking for the

right words to talk to him.

‘Will you write to me when I go away?’ she asked.

‘Writing? Writing will not do me any good. I want to

look at you and touch you. I want to care for you and

do my best to make you happy. I want to be by your side

when you’re ill and lonely.’

‘I’ll be all right, Ethan. Do not worry about me.’

‘I suppose you will marry when we part,’ he said in a low

voice.

‘Oh, Ethan! Stop talking like that!’ she cried.

‘Please don’t cry,’ he said holding her hand tightly.

65

Chapter 14

The Destiny

They reached the top of School House Hill and Starkfield lay below them in the twilight. As they drove near the end of the village they heard the noise of children playing games.

Mattie was silent. Before they reached Corbury, Ethan had a crazy idea.

‘Look at the view, Matt! The view is wonderful. Would you like me to take you down now?’

‘Why, there isn’t time!’

‘We still have plenty of time. Come along!’

Ethan wanted to spend more time with her and Mattie realized that.

‘But, the new girl is waiting at the station.’

‘Let her wait, Matt.’

‘But how can we go down? Is there a sled around here?’ she asked.

‘Look! There is a sled which can take us down,’ he said happily.

71

ETHAN FROME

Activities

Chapters 1 - 2

Read chapter 1 and chapter 2, and circle the correct answer for each question.

1. How was the weather when Ethan walked to the church?

a) cold with lots of snow b) cold and rainy

2. WhydidnotEthanfinishschool? a) Because he had some family misfortunes. b) Because he did not like his college.

3. WhowasapopularmaninStarkfiled? a) Ethan Frome b) Denis Eady

4. What were Mattie’s main responsibilities? a) Household chores b) Farm animals

5. How did Ethan feel about Mattie? a) He loved her very much. b) He disliked her.

79

Characters

A. Put the names of the characters in the correct places.

Mrs. Hale Mattie EthanZeena Denis Eady Jotham

1. _____________ did not have any relations.2. _____________ was interested in Mattie.3. _____________ was hired.4. _____________ was not loved by her husband.5. _____________ cared about Ethan’s problems.6. _____________ was in love with Mattie Silver.

B. What do you know about these people? Write the correct name next to each sentence.

Jotham Powell Mrs Hale MattieEthan Denis Eady Zeena

1. He worked for Ethan. ______________2. She was obsessed with her health problems. ______________3. She had no family. ______________4. He was a business man. ______________5. Her husband was a carpenter. ______________6. He felt lonely after his mother’s death. ______________

Ethan Frome

96

C. Answers may vary.

D.1 T 2 F 3 F 4 F 5 T6 T 7 T 8 F 9 T 10 T

Word search

M C R Y S T A L C L E A R K

S R K M M E M O R Y H F D A

T E S D F F G H U I S X Z M

O A P P R O A C H R M T E U

V T W E A S Z Z V S A B O S

E O A Q R X C B U U S S D E

P R E T E N D X A N H Z U M

Q W E T M Y U O O R U P X E

Z X V B A A Q N M I P Y U N

T R S D I Z X Q W S Z X B T

Y U V A N I S H K E O L O R

S F G U Y L O Q E E R T G B

H O U S E H O L D K O O U S

1. crystal-clear2. memory3. approach4. pretend 5. vanish6. household

7. stove8. creator9. remain10. sunrise11. smash-up12. amusement